Tram boy 'didn't consider risks'

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A 15-year-old Melbourne boy facing multiple charges for
allegedly stealing a tram and a school bus had not considered his
actions could have caused injury or death, a children's court was
told today.

The teenager, who was applying for bail today, has been in a
youth training centre since early June after he allegedly stole a
school bus and tried do burn-outs in the schoolyard.

The youth, said to be obsessed with public transport, made
headlines in April when he was charged with the theft of two $3
million trams from the Yarra Tram Depot at Southbank.

Today, Detective Senior Constable Barry Hills told the court
that, on April 17, the boy took a tram on a joyride across
Melbourne's southern and eastern suburbs picking up passengers
along the way, running red lights and overshooting tram stops
before being arrested by police.

Two days earlier he allegedly drove a tram up and down the
tracks 22 times between Southbank and Port Melbourne, reaching
speeds of up to 80kph.

Sen Const Hill said he had serious concerns for public safety if
the boy were released.

"He has this obsession with public transport and I believe he
will attempt to re-offend by the means of attempting to steal
public transport," he said.

"I believe he has no consideration in terms of what his actions
could do by way of harm or even death."

A juvenile justice worker from the Department of Human Services
said although she could not guarantee the boy would not re-offend,
she thought there were enough support services in place so he would
not repeat his behaviour.

The boy faces a string of charges including theft and
endangering life.